he Wrangler
National Finals
Rodeo can be a
whirlwind of an experience for rodeo fans. The
same holds true for the
event’s 120 contestants.
From the moment they
arrive at the Thomas &
Mack Center each night
until they head out on the
town after the final performance, Wrangler NFR
contestants are constantly
on the go. What exactly
does the daily schedule
entail? We asked reigning
world champion bareback
rider Tim O’Connell to
walk us through his routine from last year.
O’Connell said he and
fellow bareback riders
Tanner Aus and Ty Breuer
would depart the Monte

Carlo Hotel & Casino at
about 4:30 p.m. for the
6:45 p.m. performance.
Once they arrived at the
Thomas & Mack Center,
they went right to work.
“They have all 15 horses
in separate pens, and I
always take a picture of
the horse I’ve [drawn] and
keep a scrapbook,” said
O’Connell, a three-time
Wrangler NFR qualifier from Zwingle, Iowa.
“We all go in the locker
room, and I check all my
equipment and make sure
everything is OK, and that
my binds are working and
spurs are rolling good.
“From that point, normally I go down to the
bucking chutes to stretch.
It’s nice, because there’s
nobody in the arena and

it’s kind of like the calm
before the storm. You can
quietly go through your
ride in your head, decide
how aggressive you want
to be or how smart you
want to ride that night.
You think about anything
and everything.”
After a stop at the stock
contractors’ room for a
cup of coffee and a visit to
the Justin SportsMedicine
room to grab tape and
elastic he needed for that
night’s ride, O’Connell
would join the other bareback riders in the locker
room.
“By that time, everybody’s
in there, and there’s a
bunch of stock contractors who like hanging
out in our locker room,”
O’Connell said. “Normal-

// 11
from 2006-2015. His
streak ended when he sat
out last year’s Wrangler
NFR, but it’s not like he
was completely absent
from Las Vegas. For the
first time, he attended
the competition as a
spectator, an experience
that provided a new
perspective.

After a one-year hiatus, several all-time great cowboys are
trying to return to Wrangler NFR
By PATRICK EVERSON

T

he 2016 Wrangler
National Finals
Rodeo was full
of its typical excitement
and emotions, but you
could forgive the fans a
little bit for wondering
where some of the usual
suspects were. You know,
those name brands such
as Tuf Cooper and Luke
Branquinho.
And of course, the biggest
name brand of all (though
he’d never say that himself): Trevor Brazile.

Those three, along with
many other well-known
cowboys, missed out
on last year’s 10-day
rodeo bonanza because
of a dispute between
the Elite Rodeo Association—which several
high-profile competitors
were involved with—and
the Professional Rodeo
Cowboys Association.
Fortunately, the two
sides resolved their
differences, and a big
beneficiary figures to
be the 2017 Wrangler

NFR—not to mention
all the fans filling the
Thomas & Mack Center to the brim for 10
action-packed nights.
“That’s the main thing.
The fans are a special
part of that event,” Brazile says.
If anyone can speak with
authority on that topic, it’s
Brazile. He is a 23-time
world champion, with 10
of those all-around titles
coming consecutively

“As crazy as it sounds,
I’d never been out there
in that capacity [as a
fan],” Brazile says. “It’s
a great time whether
you’re in it or not. I
attended maybe four
nights, and I certainly
enjoyed it. It’s never a
bad week staying at the
MGM Grand and going
to the rodeo. You can’t
beat it.”
Brazile is gaining in the
PRCA World Standings
and continues to work
hard to regain his spot
among the top 15 in the
world. However, nothing is guaranteed in the
world’s toughest sport.
Tuf Cooper is a threetime world champion in
tie-down roping, most
recently taking the crown
in 2014, and he qualified
for the Wrangler NFR
every year from 2008 to
2015. So he’s certainly
eager to get back to the
Thomas & Mack, and it
appears he’s well on his
way: As of mid-spring,
he was sitting sixth in the
world standings.

12 //

Branquinho has battled an injury-plagued year in an attempt
to return to Las Vegas.

Branquinho certainly
knows what it’s like to
win those buckles, as
he’s claimed five world
championships in 14
trips to the Wrangler
NFR. As of mid-May,
Branquinho stood seventh in the steer wrestling
standings, and he says he
knows what he needs to
keep doing to earn a 15th
trip to Las Vegas.

Indeed, that’s the last
day of the 2017 Wrangler NFR, when all the
gold buckles are doled
out. Steer wrestler Luke

“Win!” Branquinho says.
“The winter was good. I won
Fort Worth for a pretty good
chunk there, and placed at a
few other rodeos.”

Branquinho noted that,
as in pretty much every
event, the summer will
tell the tale for who gets
to Vegas and who doesn’t.
“With everything but the
kitchen sink counting in
the standings, it’s gonna
take $70,000-$75,000 to
get to the Finals,” says
Branquinho, who was
halfway to that total in
May. “I need at least another $35,000, and probably a lot more so that I’m
not sweating it out.”
Hopefully, none of these

rodeo stars are sweating it
out, and come December,
they will all be back in
the saddle at the WNFR.
And nobody is looking
forward to galloping into
the arena on December 7
more than Brazile.
“That first night, the
Grand Entry, is so special,” he says. “It’s just
the pageantry of it all,
the cowboys all riding in
and representing their
respective states. That’s
one of those moments
that never gets duplicated
throughout the year.”

Photo: Mike Copeman, PRCA.

“I love getting to wake
up and do what I love to
do,” says Cooper, who had
wins at three rodeos by
early May. “Most of the
rodeo season is crammed
into the summer months,
and I’m right on track with
where I’ve been every year.
But it’s not about where
you are today. It’s about
December 16. That’s what
really matters.”

14 //
Gaining valuable experience at the Junior
NFR will lead to future success for young
competitors.

// 15

Rodeo Future Is Now
Quality ropin’, rasslin’ and ridin’ is being
done by future stars at the annual Junior NFR at Cowboy Christmas
By PATRICK EVERSON

T

Photo: All
All Junior
Junior NFR
NFR by Steve Spatafore.
Photo:

oday’s youngsters
have never had
more options
when it comes to playing
sports. Football, basketball, softball, baseball,
soccer and lacrosse—
among other athletic pursuits—have all extended
their reach to the youngest possible participants,
even as young as 5 or 6
years old.
And this being the age
of sports specialization,
many kids often focus
on just one activity, and
they tend to cling to that
activity for life. One sport
that didn’t have such a
deep reach, and therefore
wasn’t attracting many
kids at the beginning of
their athletic endeavors,
was rodeo.
Until now.
Thanks to a speedy progression over the past two
years, the Junior National
Finals Rodeo is now luring
kids into the sport at an

early age, with a goal of
making them rodeo contestants for years and, hopefully, rodeo fans for life.
“It means the world,” says
Kirby Cannon, who chairs
the Junior NFR’s mini
bareback and mini saddle
bronc riding competitions.
“It’s especially important in
the rough-stock events—
bulls, barebacks and saddle
broncs. Our numbers [in
those events] are plummeting, and that was the whole
reason I got involved.
“These days, kids go into
one sport, and that’s all they
do. Rodeo was losing kids,
because parents said their
kids can’t do more than one
sport and that they don’t
have time for rodeo. But
now we have an option for
them, even at that age of
5-6 or 7-8. Rodeo can compete against football and
Little League baseball. We
have a Super Bowl, a world
championship. That gives
parents and kids a reason
to go into rodeo.”

Last year, the inaugural
Junior NFR was staged in
the Cowboy Christmas
Wrangler Rodeo Arena at
the Las Vegas Convention
Center, with competitions
spread over six days in
conjunction with the 10day run of the Wrangler
National Finals Rodeo,
just down the road at the
Thomas & Mack Center.
The Junior NFR was the
culmination of what started in 2014, when the Roy
Cooper Junior Roping
Invitational and the Chris
Shivers Mini Bull Riding
Invitational were held in
that same arena. Even
as Cooper watched his
young sons, Tuf and Clint,
grow into the family business of tie-down roping,
the legendary cowboy had
the idea of creating a premier junior roping event
in Las Vegas.
“I’d been thinking about
it for at least 10 years,”
says Cooper, the man
nicknamed “Super
Looper” who won six
tie-down roping world
titles and the 1983 allaround championship on
the Professional Rodeo
Cowboys Association
tour. “I wish Tuf and
Clint would’ve been able
to do it.”

Clint Cooper was already
beyond the junior circuit
at that point, well into his
20s, while Tuf Cooper was
a teenager. Thanks to their
bloodlines and work ethic,
both clearly didn’t need a
boost from a junior event—
Clint became a five-time
qualifier for the Wrangler
NFR and Tuf an eight-time
qualifier and three-time
world champion.
Still, even as his kids
flourished on the professional circuit, the elder
Cooper remained confident his idea was very
much worth pursuing.
Thanks to his efforts—as
well as assistance from
former standout bull rider
Shivers, Las Vegas Events
and many others looking
to enhance junior rodeo—
things quickly blossomed,
and by 2016 the Junior
NFR featured six events:
tie-down roping, bull
riding, bareback riding,
barrel racing, team roping
and girls breakaway.
This year, the Junior NFR is
adding steer wrestling and
saddle bronc riding, with
multiple age groups in all
events. Not only that, but
the Junior NFR is expanding from six to 10 days, all
running concurrently with
the Wrangler NFR.

16 //
Ostensibly, there will be two
five-day rodeos—rough
stock events will take place
December 7-11, and timed
events are scheduled for
December 12-16—with
competitors in each category going through two
qualifying rounds. The top
qualifiers in each event/
each age group will move
on to the championship
short-go on the final day of
each five-day rodeo.
Cooper will oversee tiedown roping in three age
brackets—19-under boys,
13-under boys and 10-under boys/girls—along with
14-under girls breakaway
roping. About 90 total
contestants will compete
over the first four days, with
top qualifiers in each event
moving on to the Junior
NFR short-go. In fact,

1

Cooper said the 19-under
tie-down category will
probably feature just two
contestants in the short-go,
making it a match-roping
event for the title.
Those spectators who take
in the Junior NFR at the
Wrangler Rodeo Arena can
expect to see the best of
the best, including several
young ropers who very
likely will become future
professional standouts.

“I promise you, there’ll be
two and probably three
in this year’s NFR who’ve
roped in my contest the last
three years,” Cooper says,
noting he picks the contestants from those he’s seen
and worked with, or who
have worked with contemporaries such as former
world champion Joe Beaver.

2

01.

The buckle is just
as coveted at the
Junior NFR.

02.

Hard work and
dedication leads
to success for
young riders.

“I see dreams, I see kids
who are hungry—kids who
will work hard for it. And I
appreciate Las Vegas Events
giving me the opportunity
to bring these kids out to
Las Vegas.”
Kelly Kaminski is just as
appreciative for how the
Junior NFR has bolstered
barrel racing, the event she
oversees. Last year, there
were six qualifying events in
barrel racing for the Junior
NFR; this year, there will be
11, including one in Mexico
and one in Australia.
“Last year was the first
year, so a lot of folks didn’t
really know about it,” says
Kaminski, a two-time world
champion. “This year, it’s
really grown, and it will
continue to grow. But we’re
growing it responsibly so it

doesn’t get too big, too fast.”
In 2016, 60 barrel racers
qualified for a trip to Las
Vegas, split between two age
groups: 12-16 and 11-under. This year, the number
of contestants will more
than double to 128.
As with competitors in all
the other events, barrel
racers get the full-on Vegas
rodeo treatment.
“They were like shocked,”
Kaminski says of last year’s
Junior NFR qualifiers. “We
treated them the same as
the big girls at the NFR,
with autograph sessions,
back-number presentations. It was fun to be able
to do that. They even met
some of their heroes—
their faces lit up, and they
were so excited.”

// 17
Ote Berry, a four-time
world champion steer wrestler, will see his event make
its Junior NFR debut this
year. The ProRodeo Hall of
Famer says he’s excited for
the young steer wrestlers to
share the Vegas stage, and
he’s not alone.
“The response I received on
the very first day I announced the inaugural Ote
Berry’s Junior Steer Wrestling World Championship
was amazing,” Berry says.
“Kids, parents, producers,
fans, sponsors—everyone in
the rodeo world wanted to
know how they could help
and partner with me to give
the kids an event that’s truly
world-championship caliber. An event like the Junior
NFR, which already has 10
[steer wrestling] qualifying
events in seven states, will

do nothing but elevate the
level of commitment and
competition.”
Berry says the competition
itself will surely benefit
all contestants, but just as
important, it will create
more opportunities for the
youngsters. College rodeo
coaches will add the Junior
NFR to their recruiting
schedule, and of course,
some of these bulldoggers
are likely to one day end up
in the Wrangler NFR.
“I’ve always enjoyed mentoring young people in my
event, so the Junior NFR
makes perfect sense,” says
Berry, who pointed to his
work with Tom Carney
at the Steer Wrestling 101
School in Louisiana. “Just
a few short years ago, there
was a skinny kid with a

work ethic that wouldn’t
quit. That kid was Tyler
Waguespack, and he’s now
the reigning champ of the
world, and he won more
money than any other contestant at the 2016 NFR.”
Saddle bronc riding also
makes its Junior NFR
debut this year, which
thrilled event organizer
Lacie Demers, who is
also overseeing bareback riding. In both
events, riders will be
on appropriately sized
horses based on their
age groups: 6-8, 9-11
and 12-14. In the past,
junior cowboys often
rode steers up until high
school, which Demers
says contributed to a
decline in saddle bronc
and bareback riders once
they hit high school.

3

BRINGING ROUGH-STOCK
EVENTS BACK INTO
JUNIOR RODEO IS
GOING TO HELP THE
CONTESTANTS, THE
FANS AND THE RODEO
INDUSTRY A LOT.
-Organizer Lacie Demers

“This is pretty much paving
the way to a new sport in
junior rodeo,” Demers says.
“We’re hoping it really brings
it to the next level, by getting
these kids prepared and
being on size-appropriate
stock. There’s been a great
turnout in people who want
to participate, so there’s a
good chance we’ll expand to
high school next year.
“Bringing rough-stock
events back into junior
rodeo is going to help the
contestants, the fans and
the rodeo industry a lot.”
Bret Beach, a three-time
Wrangler NFR qualifier,
manages team roping for
the Junior NFR. He believes
letting the young cowboys
compete in the same city
and at the same time as the
Wrangler NFR is a huge plus.

18 //
“When you’re in junior
rodeo, all you do is
dream about going to
Vegas. Now, with the
Junior NFR, we’re giving
these kids the opportunity to be in Vegas before
their time,” Beach says.
“It’s a big lift, to give
them something else to
try to achieve.”
Not only will the Junior
NFR be expanding this
year, but there will be
more qualifying events
staged across the United
States. Beach says more
qualifying leads to better
competition when the
kids get to Las Vegas—so
much so that he predicts
future PRCA team roping
stars will have their roots
in the Junior NFR.
“They’re going to come
from this event. I promise you there will be kids
at this year’s Junior NFR
who could be roping in
Vegas at the NFR now,
or in two to three years,”
Beach says, alluding to
the top talent in his 16-19
age group. “They’re really
good. There are some
kids who can really rope.”
Cirildo and Lillie Leal,
in tandem with Shivers,
are overseeing the Junior
NFR’s bull riding event,
which also will feature a
range of young contestants riding age-appropriate stock. The Leals

Junior bull riding is as
exciting as the big boys.

came away from the 2016
Junior NFR more than
impressed, and they’re
highly optimistic about
the event’s long-term
impact.
“This is gonna be huge,”
Cirildo Leal says. “I’m
really excited about
going back to Vegas this
year. Everybody loves
kids, and they’re gonna
love this. These kids can
go from this to the NFR
one day.”
Adds Lillie Leal: “When
you meet these little cowboys, they aren’t afraid of
bulls, they’re not afraid of
anything. I really see this
on TV one day, just like
the big boys at the NFR.”
It’s actually not that farfetched of an idea. Bo

Gardner, who helped get
the Junior NFR off the
ground as vice president
of corporate marketing
for Las Vegas Events, says
there was a great deal of
corporate interest even
before last year’s inaugural competition.
“The Junior NFR sponsorships have strong
potential, but we need to
make sure we all manage
them properly,” Gardner
said. “We’ve got all these
companies that want to be
involved with these kids.”
Such corporate backing can have a massive
impact on the future of
rodeo by not only drawing more kids into the
sport at an early age, but
making it their sport of
choice for life—whether

it’s as competitors or fans.
Cannon, who oversees
the Junior NFR’s mini
bareback and mini saddle
bronc riding competitions, insists the importance of the latter cannot
understated.
“When Bud Selig was
commissioner of baseball,
he once said 90 percent
of [young] players never
sniff the pro or even
college level, but that they
were trying to create fans
for life,” Cannon says.
“Now, we’re getting more
kids involved [in rodeo]
and making them fans
for life.
“A few years ago, we had
nothing with this kind of
prestige. Now, we’re riding in Las Vegas during
the NFR.”

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O

K, we get it. All the wordsmith sheriffs are going
to call, insta, tweet or email to scold us about
how “awesomest” isn’t a word. They’ll probably even send us a link to Merriam-Webster’s website to
drive home the point. Well, here’s our response: At some
point in history, each word in the English language wasn’t
official until someone uttered it, and then it eventually
became part of the everyday lexicon. (How do you think
“D’oh” ended up in Merriam-Webster?)

So, when thinking about how
to best describe all things
Wrangler NFR 2017, we had
to dig deep into our bag of
adjectives. In the end, we
decided the only appropriate
thing to do was create our
own word:

Read this article and
it will totally cure your
Fear of Missing Out
(F.O.M.O) because
you’ll know exactly how
to enjoy the Awesomest rodeo of them all
By BRIAN HURLBURT

Rodeo Vegas at the Mirage is an
awesome after party where fans and
competitors jam to live music.

What happens in Las Vegas
during the annual Wrangler
NFR is nothing short of a
phenomenon. There are
literally hundreds of concerts, viewing parties, expos,
rodeos and other Western
lifestyle events held in the
city that glitters. For that
one 10-day stretch each winter, Las Vegas turns “legit
cowboy” up and down The

Photo: Courtesy of Mirage.

Welcome to the Awesomest rodeo of them all—yes,
that’s Awesomest with a
capital “A.”

22

“Las Vegas transforms
for 10 days each December,” says Craig Cavileer,
president of the Silverton
Casino. “On and off the
dirt, you find real cowboys and cowgirls who
are authentic, genuine
and spirited. That overall
genuine feeling you get
is the first thing I think
about when I think of the
NFR in Las Vegas.”
The Silverton is one of
more than 20 Las Vegas
resorts that are official
Wrangler NFR partners.

If you want to see
the champs up
close and personal,
the South Point
Go-Round Buckle
presentation is the
place to be.

Each property rolls out
the red (dirt?) carpet
each year for competitors and fans, and there
is something for everyone—and that’s not a
cliché.
Sure, hotel executives
and their staffs embrace
the 10 days because it
makes solid economic
sense. But more than
that, they love hosting
the Super Bowl of Rodeo
because the Western
lifestyle is ingrained in
their souls. That infectious passion has helped
Las Vegas put on a show

that true cowboys and
cowgirls appreciate.
“I grew up hunting,
fishing and ranching,
and I am still a rancher
to this day, so I have a
deep appreciation for
the Western lifestyle
and rodeo people,” says
Bill McBeath, president
and CEO of The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas,
who also operates the
Cave Valley Ranch near
Ely, Nevada, a cowboy
town about 240 miles
northeast of Las Vegas.
“It’s something that has
always been a part of my

life, and it’s been very
important to be a part
of it.”
McBeath, whose ranch
in Ely is home to 500
head of Black Angus
cows, says the Wrangler
NFR offers Las Vegas yet
another opportunity to
shine as a resort destination.
“Las Vegas is a very
interesting city because
it’s always filled to max
capacity, but with each
week the town’s dynamics change due to who is
visiting the city,” Mc-

Photo: John Plummer.

Strip and beyond.

AWESOMEST DAYS OF THE YEAR

24

“Vegas has this incredible
allure, and that’s why so
many world championship events are held here.”
In addition to the Silverton and Cosmopolitan,
hotel sponsors for the
2017 Wrangler NFR
include Treasure Island,
Excalibur, Gold Coast,
Harrah’s, Mandalay Bay,
The Mirage, Caesars
Palace, The Orleans, The
Plaza, Sam’s Town, SLS,
Tropicana, Westgate Las
Vegas, Wynn Las Vegas,
The D, Golden Nugget,
MGM Grand, South
Point, and the Hard
Rock. Together, these
properties—as well as
other venues—will host
more than 150 events
during Rodeo Week.
“How far the rodeo has
come since it first started is the first thing that
comes to my mind,” says
Scott Sibella, MGM vice
president and chief operating officer. “It’s a such
a great event for Las
Vegas, during a period
that was extremely slow

many years ago. It’s been
an honor being part of
the planning team. Making the rodeo what it is
today. It’s much more
than a rodeo, it’s become
an event throughout the
city. What I tell people
is to enjoy all the events
that are planned over the
ten days, from shopping,
entertainment, viewing
parties and the other
great events that take
place during the rodeo.”

The D Las Vegas
downtown is the perfect place for viewing
and after parties.

All in the Family

No Las Vegas entity has
embraced the NFR’s
lifestyle and brand since
it debuted at the Thomas
& Mack Center in Las
Vegas in 1985 more than
the Boyd family, which
operates The Orleans. In
fact, the late Sam Boyd
is considered one of the
forefathers of the Las
Vegas NFR, and his son,
Bill, remains a steadfast supporter and fan.
Although Bill Boyd is
quick to point out that
the Wrangler NFR wasn’t
always the mega-event it
is today.
“During that first year,
I remember my dad
and I walking through
our casinos, handing
out rodeo tickets,” Boyd
recalls. “We wanted to
make sure NFR got off
to a great start, so we did
everything we could to get

Photo: Courtesy The D.

Beath says. “For those
10 days of the Wrangler
NFR, the city is immersed in the cowboy
lifestyle with everything
that goes with it. The
Wrangler NFR just happens to be the center of
that Western universe.

AWESOMEST DAYS OF THE YEAR

26

“I also remember the
nights when I would
ride into the arena on a
stagecoach. The NFR has
always been a lot of fun.”
The power and passion of
the on-the-dirt competition at the Thomas & Mack
has certainly powered the
NFR engine more than
anything. But the razzle
and dazzle of Las Vegas—
and the efforts of many like
the Boyd family in the early
days—took the spectacle to
an entirely different level.

“I am not sure there’s
another sport where you
can watch the world’s top
15 participants compete
in seven event categories, and get it all done
in two hours,” says Ryan
Growney, general manager of the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa. “The
level of competition and
the excitement don’t get
any better, and nowhere
else will you find more
energized fans.
“Las Vegas is the Entertainment Capital of the
World, and it still amazes
me how much the town
has gotten behind the

NFR. It’s the only time of
year that one category—
Western lifestyle—takes
over the whole town. If
you own a pair of boots
or a cowboy hat, or have
country music playing in
your car, there’s only one
place to be those first
two weeks in December.”
Many in the resort
industry with an eye for
such things liken the
Wrangler NFR Vegas experience to that of mega
worldwide sporting
events. If the horseshoe
fits, Vegas will wear it.
“We think of the Na-

tional Finals Rodeo as
similar to the World
Cup in terms of knowing
rodeo fans from across
the globe come together
to not only witness the
sport’s premier athletes
in a world-class entertainment destination, but
also to honor their accomplishments throughout the year,” says Don
Voss, vice president of
sales and marketing for
Treasure Island. “Wrangler
NFR events at TI represent authenticity, from the
genuine country-western
Gilley’s Saloon Dance,
Hall & BBQ to the wild
antics at Señor Frog’s,
along with the scheduled
live entertainment like
blue-collar comedian
Bill Engvall, autograph
signings by the NFR bull
riders, appearances by the
Crown Royal Riders, as
well as some of the hottest
country bands performing
in our cozy venues.”
Going Downtown
Not to be outdone by
the resorts on the Las
Vegas Strip, Downtown
Las Vegas has gotten in
on the Wrangler NFR
action in a big way in recent years and have be-

Live viewing takes place at each
sponsor resort like at the Mirage,
and brings the rodeo to life when
fans can’t get to the Mack.

Photo: John Plummer.

people in the seats. That
isn’t much of a problem
these days, of course.

AWESOMEST DAYS OF THE YEAR

Cowboy up. Party down.
Join us for
live entertainment every
night during WNFR.
SALOON • DANCE HALL • BAR-B-QUE
gilleyslasvegas.com

treasureisland.com

28

AWESOMEST DAYS OF THE YEAR

come important neighbors and partners. For
instance, the Downtown
Hoedown is an epic party and the official kickoff
event of Wrangler NFR
Week in Las Vegas. The
Hoedown is followed
by 10 days and nights of
viewing parties, concerts, autograph sessions
and more at Downtown
resorts, including The D
Las Vegas.
“Downtown Las Vegas
has become a premier
hotspot to catch all
the NFR action,” says
Mike Dini, The D Las
01.

Treasure Island is one
of several resorts to offer live viewing parties,
which is the next best
thing to being at The
Mack.

02

The Downtown Hoedown is the official
kick-off to rodeo week
in Vegas and is just
one of many Western
lifestyle events held in
Downtown Las Vegas.

Vegas’ director of marketing. “As the rodeo
has become a historic
celebration for Las Vegas
as a whole, it also has
contributed to Downtown Las Vegas’ own
continuous growth and
revitalization. Every year
we transform the Downtown Las Vegas Events
Center into a massive
indoor country hoedown
with nightly live-feed

Also contributing greatly
to Downtown’s Wrangler
NFR vibe Downtown is
the Golden Nugget.

“Additionally, we are
proud sponsors of Utah’s
own Wright Family Bronc
Riders, so providing a
space for fans to personally interact with the all-star
family team has been a
key component in our
annual parties.”

“We’re all about cowboys
and cowgirls at Golden
Nugget in December,”
says Chris Latil, Golden Nugget’s senior vice
president and general
manager. “Plus, we take
entertainment seriously
around here, offering

1

Photo: Tom Donoghue (bottom); John Plummer (top).

2

30

AWESOMEST DAYS OF THE YEAR

nightly parties to watch
the live feed of the
Wrangler NFR direct
from the Thomas &
Mack Center, along with
concerts starting at 10
p.m. each night.

“Where else can you see
country greats like Jamey
Johnson, The Charlie
Daniels Band, Ronnie
Milsap, Tanya Tucker,
Lonestar and many others all under one roof?
Not to mention you can

meet all the barrel racers
at our house, as we host
their official autograph
signing. If you haven’t
been to the Golden Nugget during the Wrangler
NFR yet, you won’t regret
stopping in this year.”

Indeed, on and off the
dirt, the Wrangler NFR
is one of awesomest
experiences on the Las
Vegas calendar.
Wordsmith sheriffs, be
damned.

WRANGLER NFR PARTIES, EVENTS, MORE
Looking to catch some of the off-the-dirt action during Wrangler NFR Week in Las Vegas?
Here’s your guide to some of the best entertainment offerings for 2017. Although not all
information was available at press time, this is a good head start. As always, visit NFRExperience.com and keep apprised of social media for more information.
OFFICIAL 2017
WRANGLER NFR
RESORT PARTNERS
Caesars Palace
Cosmopolitan
The D
Excalibur
Gold Coast
Golden Nugget
Hard Rock
Harrah’s Las Vegas
Mandalay Bay
MGM Grand
Mirage
Orleans
The Plaza
Sam’s Town
Silverton
SLS
South Point
Treasure Island
Tropicana
Westgate Las Vegas
Wynn Las Vegas

ENTERTAINMENT
SNEAK PEAK
December 6, 12
Sierra Black
South Point

December 8, 9
Reba, Brooks & Dunn
The Colosseum –
Caesars Palace

December 8, 9
December 7
George Strait
John Michael Montgomery T-Mobile Arena
Golden Nugget
December 8, 9, 15, 16
Ron White
December 7-11
Aaron Watson
Terry Fator Theatre at
The Mirage
South Point
December 8
Cole Swindell
The Cosmopolitan of Las
Vegas

The gift that
keeps giving
For many retailers, the opportunity to
set up shop at Cowboy Christmas and
the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s
Hunter & Outdoor Christmas Expo is an
annual tradition
By MATT JACOB

The second-most cov eted tickets? Those that
are doled out to exhibitors at Cowboy Christmas, the official gift
show of the Wrangler
NFR that has operated
concurrently with the
rodeo since 1986.
Just as fans feel like
lottery winners upon
learning they’ve scored
NFR tickets, the same is
true of those businesses
that are granted the op-

portunity to exhibit their
wares during Cowboy
Christmas at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Not only do vendors
rarely turn down the
offer to participate in
Cowboy Christmas, but
many hold onto their
exhibit spaces with a bull
rider-like grip. What that
means for attendees is
the very best in Western
merchandise is available
for 10 special days.
“It’s so hard to get into
Cowboy Christmas, so
once you’re in there, you
don’t leave,” says Mark
Dunlap, president and
general manager of M.L.
Leddy’s, a 95-year-old,
Fort Worth, Texas-based
retailer that’s been selling its handmade boots
and saddles (among

Photo: All by Steve Spatafore.
Photo: All by Steve Spatafore.

F

or more than
three decades, the
Wrangler National Finals Rodeo has
produced sellout after
sellout each December
at the Thomas & Mack
Center, making tickets to
the annual 10-day event
the most coveted in all of
Las Vegas.

// 33
Up close and personal
autograph sessions where
cowboys and cowgirls
give a tip of the Resistol is
just one benefit to attending Cowboy Christmas.

other items) at Cowboy Christmas since its
inception.
“There are a lot of good
retail shows in Las Vegas
during the NFR, but
Cowboy Christmas in
our eyes is certainly the
place to be.”
The numbers support
Dunlap’s contention: Last
year, a record 231,517
people passed through
the turnstiles during the
10-day Cowboy Christmas and RMEF Expo,
traversing more than
900,000 square feet of
exhibit space to peruse

goods from 400+ vendors.
To put those figures in
perspective, the inaugural Cowboy Christmas
in 1986 was staged at
the Tropicana Hotel and
attracted 31,433 patrons
and 52 vendors. One of
those vendors was Carlos
Silver, which like M.L.
Leddy’s has had a presence at Cowboy Christmas since the beginning.
Launched by Carlos
Duarte in 1974, the California-based business
produces custom sterling
silver jewelry and buck-

les, as well as handmade
leather-braided bracelets
and signature watches.
Duarte’s son, Carlos Jr.,
calls Cowboy Christmas “The Super Bowl of
Western shopping,” but
is quick to add that the
10-day show has meant
much more to his family
than just dollars and
cents.
“What has made our
years successful is
meeting new customers
and seeing old friends,”
Carlos Duarte Jr. says.
“Over the years, many of
our clients have grown
in their lives and ca-

34 //
reers and shared their
success and stories with
us at Cowboy Christmas. Many have gone to
college, become Western
professionals such as
veterinarians, agriculture
business men and women, and become cowboy
and cowgirl legends.
“Some, like three-time
NFR all-around world
champion Joe Beaver,
stop by every year to
visit.”
Monique’s Leather,
which specializes in
authentic, custom-made

1

cowhides, has been
exhibiting at Cowboy
Christmas for more
than two decades. Maria
Sindoni, whose mother
started the company in
Houston in the early 1980s, agrees with
Duarte that Cowboy
Christmas is about more
than processing as many
transactions as possible.
“We look forward to
Cowboy Christmas each
year, because we get to
be with people who like
and appreciate what we
do, and we get to see
old faces,” Sindoni says.

“Whether they buy or
not is irrelevant. Obviously, we’re there to do
business, but that’s not
what it’s all about.”
Another reason Sindoni says she enjoys her
trip to Las Vegas each
December is that only
top-of-the-line vendors
are selected to be part of
Cowboy Christmas and
the RMEF Expo.
“The merchandise at that
show, in terms of the quality and variety, is some of
the best there is—and I’ve
done shows all over the

country over the years,”
she says. “It’s a nice mix of
good merchandise.”
Philip Smith of Steel
Strike, which manufactures custom hand-crafted leather and wood
furnishings, is another longtime Cowboy
Christmas exhibitor.
Launched 28 years ago
in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Steel Strike is now
based in Buena Vista,
Colorado, where Smith
does most of his business
throughout the year.
However, that business

01.

A stunning amount of
product is always found
at the mega Cowboy
Christmas and RMEF
Hunter and Outdoor
Christmas Expo.

02

Wrangler NFR fans love
to “saddle up” at the Cowboy Christmas and RMEF
expos each December.

Photo: All
All by
by Steve
Steve Spatafore.
Spatafore.
Photo:

2

// 35
is usually conducted
alongside architects
and designers hired by
homeowners who want
Steel Strike to furnish
their custom residences.
When he takes over 14
booth spaces at the Las
Vegas Convention Center in December, though,
Smith gets rare direct
contact with potential
customers.
“What I love about
Cowboy Christmas is I
actually get to meet the
people, sit down with
them, they get to know
me, I get to know them,”

Smith says. “Then they
come [to Colorado] and
see us actually produce
their pieces and see
there’s nobody else who
does what we do.
“It’s just made it a lot
more casual and personal. Plus, it’s not a
high-pressure atmosphere like it tends to
be at a World Market
Center, where it’s always
about business.”
As enjoyable—and financially beneficial—as
it is for retailers to be
part of Cowboy Christ-

mas, there are logistical
challenges to overcome.
For instance, not only
must many of the vendors uproot their businesses and make the trek
to Las Vegas, but they
have to do so during
their busiest time of year.
“We’re setting up at
Cowboy Christmas over
the Thanksgiving weekend. Well, that’s Black
Friday—you’re supposed
to be rocking and rolling
in your stores,” says
Dunlap of M.L. Leddy’s. “But during that
time, we send a lot of

our product and a good
number of our staff to
Las Vegas.
“The positive is we get to
go to Las Vegas and find
a whole new customer
during that same time.
So really, we’re getting
two Christmases in one,
because for 10 days in
early December, we’re in
Las Vegas at one of the
most exciting events of
the year seeing a new
group of customers that
we wouldn’t have otherwise seen during that
time. It’s like an extra
month of business.”

36 //
Action: We are adding
short descriptions of each
exhibitor on the NFR App
in addition to their location and general category
listing.
Fan request: We are tired
of lugging around shopping bags the entire day.

We asked. You spoke. We listened.

W

e take a lot of pride in preparing a unique and
exciting experience…the NFR Experience. To
do that, we annually ask our fans: How are
we doing? In December of 2016, immediately following
the ten days of the Wrangler NFR and Cowboy Christmas, Las Vegas Events sent a survey to our fans. More
than 4,000 fans and attendees responded. The responses
quickly flowed in and our team met and immediately
created a plan of action to take the Cowboy Christmas
experience to another level.
Fan request: Better food
choices and shorter lines.
Action: We are working
to increase the number
of food options during
peak hours (11 a.m. – 1
p.m.) which will reduce
the lines for attendees.
Many of the bar and
food outlets within the
lower level of the South
Halls will be repositioned to allow for incremental seating.

Additional food and beverage outlets will be placed
throughout the footprint
of Cowboy Christmas,
including a coffee and
Danish outlet in the east
lobby, a new bar and
sandwich shop in Cowboy
Christmas Too and portable stops for pizza and hot
dogs conveniently placed
on the main level.
The restaurant in the
west lobby will be re-

Fan request: More places
to relax.
Action: LVE will add
more tables and seating
in the east end near the
Rodeo Live Stage presented by RODEOHOUSTON™ and Coors Rodeo
Saloon. Bench seating will
available for attendees off
the main aisle of Cowboy
Christmas.
On the second floor, Cowboy Christmas Too will
also have incremental areas
to relax, including a Junior
NFR live feed viewing area
near the Wrangler Rodeo
Arena, within the footprint
of RMEF’s Hunter and
Outdoor Christmas Expo.
Fan request: Improved
show information on
Wrangler NFR related
technology.

Fan request: We want
more Junior NFR action.
Action: The Junior NFR
will now run for all ten
days, December 7-16.
Competitions will include
Leal’s Junior Bull Riding,
mini bareback riding,
mini saddle bronc riding,
junior steer wrestling,
girl breakaway, total team
roping, boys tie-down
and girls barrel racing. In
addition, we are creating
an overflow viewing area
for the Junior NFR on the
second floor.
Fan request: We want
more Cowboy Christmas
Too.
Action: We are expanding
the Cowboy Christmas
Too footprint on the second floor adjacent to the
RMEF’s Hunter & Outdoor Christmas Expo.

Photos: Steve Spatafore.

Fan Feedback

designed and ready for
business at the start of
Cowboy Christmas.

Action: A new bag check
area will be a new feature
and allow attendees the
freedom to shop without
carrying large items for
the entire day.

Within a span of 11 days
in March, the rodeo
world lost renowned stock
contractor Harry Vold and
revered announcer Hadley
Barrett. Both left a void
that will be tough to fill.

Barrett, a 1999 Hall of
Fame inductee, worked
the Wrangler NFR as an
announcer four times,
in 1968, 1976, 1979 and
1983. The Nebraskan died
March 2 in Denver at the
age of 87 after suffering
heart failure.

Harry Vold

Hadley Barrett

Vold, one of only two
contractors to provide
stock to every Wrangler
NFR, was one of the most
respected men in rodeo.
The 1994 ProRodeo Hall
of Fame inductee, who
was known affectionately as “The Duke of the
Chutes,” died March 13 at
the age of 93 at his home
in Avondale, Colorado.
The Canadian-born

cowboy was named PRCA
Contractor of the Year 11
times and had seven different animals selected as
PRCA Stock of the Year.
Vold, who received the
2009 Legend of ProRodeo
award in Las Vegas, was
remembered by a group of
600 people at the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colorado,
on March 20.
One of Vold’s favorite
things was attending the
Wrangler NFR, mainly
because it gave him the
chance to chatter constantly with those he respected
about the sport he adored.
“He loved going to Las
Vegas,” said his daughter, Kirsten, who runs
the family business. “He
loved being at the South
Point [Hotel & Casino],
because everybody was
there and he could visit
with them. It was right
up his alley to talk about
bucking horses and all
things rodeo from the

“You can’t ask for much
more than that.”

The four-time PRCA
Announcer of the Year
(1983, 1985, 1989, 2002)
also called the 1967 National Finals Steer Roping
competition and seven
Canadian Finals Rodeos
during his illustrious
career. A PRCA member
since 1965, Barrett worked
as a Wrangler NFR television announcer beginning
in 1980 and was a valued
mentor to numerous
fellow announcers.
Indeed, two great men
will be missing from this
year’s Wrangler NFR, and
for those who admired
them, the rodeo will
never be the same. While
gone, though, neither
Vold nor Barrett will ever
be forgotten.

emorial Night at the Wrangler National Finals
Rodeo is always a solemn occasion, one for reflection and reverence for those who have passed
on to the arena in the sky. This year will be no different,
especially since the tribute will include a salute to a pair of
ProRodeo Hall of Famers with deep Wrangler NFR ties.

WITH

at

Purchase tickets at

straittovegas.com
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8 AT 8pm
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9 AT 10pm

For additional information and a complete line-up of entertainment, check out: mgmresorts.com/wnfr

40 //
Harry Vold tagging his Bucking horse Red Pepper
at the first NFR in Dallas in 1959.

As is customary, the Vold family will once
again reunite at the 2017 Wrangler NFR—
only this time, with heavy hearts.
By REID THOMPSON

F

or many fans, the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo
is more than just a rodeo. It’s an event that brings
together loved ones every December to be part of
one of the grandest spectacles in sports, a highlight on
the calendar when they know where they’ll be and that
they’ll be surrounded by family and friends.

The family patriarch,
ProRodeo Hall of Famer
Harry Vold, has provided
stock at every Wrangler
NFR since the event
began in 1959. That
will continue in 2017,
when Harry Vold Rodeo
Company’s legacy lives on

despite Harry’s passing on
March 13 at the age of 93.
Whether the Wrangler
NFR was staged in Oklahoma City or Las Vegas, it
has always been a gathering place if your last name
is Vold.
“It’s our family reunion,
because that’s when everybody comes together,”
says Dona Vold Larsen,
the second-oldest of the
five Vold children. “We’ve
always had somebody’s
little child on our laps

Photo: Courtesy of Vold Family.

Family Affair

This is particularly true
for members of the Vold
family, who travel from
Canada, Colorado and
Wyoming to work, play,
reunite and celebrate the
Western way of life they
love so much.

42 //
1

01.

Harry Vold and
son Wayne at NFR.

02

(L to R) Kirsten Vold with
Marley and Christie McClary
in the Vold family seats at
the Thomas & Mack.

2

One of the “First Families
of Rodeo,” the Volds have
done more than just provide stock at the famous
rodeo. They’ve worked as
timers and pickup men,
and been as much a part
of its fabric as any other
family.
During the 10 nightly
performances at the
Thomas & Mack Center,
it’s not difficult to locate

the Volds, as their 11
tickets in Section 105
have been the same since
the event moved to Las
Vegas in 1985. Each
of the Vold children—
Wayne, Dona, Doug,
Darce and Kirsten—has
two tickets apiece, and
the family matriarch,
Karen, has the 11th. That
number coincidentally
matches the number of
PRCA Stock Contractor
of the Year awards that
Harry Vold—affectionately known as the “Duke
of the Chutes”—won
during his illustrious
career.
The tickets have long
been Christmas gifts

from Harry and Karen to
their kids, and virtually
everyone in the family,
young and old, has had
the pleasure of seeing
the rodeo from the “Vold
section.”
“It’s the same number of
tickets and close to the
same section as we had
in Oklahoma City,” says
Kirsten Vold, the youngest child who runs Harry
Vold Rodeo Company
from the family ranch
in Avondale, Colorado.
“In Oklahoma City, we
were always on the righthand delivery behind
the bucking chutes in
the first two rows. So
when [the NFR moved]

to Vegas, they tried to
get everybody’s season
tickets as close to what
they had as possible.”
As far as the Vold family is concerned, they’ve
got the best seats in the
house.
“I love Las Vegas, but my
very favorite thing is to
just sit in my seat and
watch every moment of
that rodeo,” Darce Vold
says. “It’s the best rodeo
with the best competitors
and stock. If I did nothing more than that, it
would be worth the trip.”
That’s not to say the
Volds don’t get out and

Photos: Courtesy of Vold Family.

[at the rodeo], and it’s a
tremendous family time
and has been since we
were children. We have
experienced about every
angle of it, and it’s always
a thrill. There’s nothing
like it.”

dad was there.”
One specific night at this
year’s rodeo is certain to
produce some tears.
“Memorial Night is going
to be particularly tough,”
Wayne Vold says. “Most
every rodeo I go to now
has a tribute for him. It’s
nice, but it’s tough.

You can find the family
at the PRCA Convention, the annual Benny
Binion’s World Famous
Bucking Horse & Bull
Sale (which the Volds
have helped grow), or
the South Point’s Big Sur
Oyster Bar during the
day or one of the main
casino-floor bars at night.
“Dad liked to go to the
Oyster Bar and have lunch
with any of the Volds who
were there,” says Wayne
Vold, the eldest sibling
who sings the Canadian national anthem on

Canada Night at the NFR.
“He’d be downstairs having
breakfast from about 6
a.m. until 11 a.m., just visiting with people, and I’d
go down and have breakfast with him just about
every morning.”
Says Dona Vold Larsen:
“We’re of Norwegian
descent, and we meet
yearly at the Oyster Bar
and nearly run them out
of oysters. It’s a family
tradition.”
Another tradition: arriving in Las Vegas on
Thanksgiving Day, when
they gather for a family
dinner at the South Point’s
Silverado Steak House.
Other regular stops include Cowboy Christmas
at the Las Vegas Convention Center and P.F.
Chang’s restaurant.

Of course, it’s not the
locations that matter so
much as the company
they keep.
“We try and spend as
much time as we can together, because we might
not see each other for six
months or a year,” Darce
Vold says.
Harry Vold, who was
born in Canada, was
always the center of the
family’s activities in Las
Vegas. Needless to say,
in the wake of his passing, there will be a much
different feel to this year’s
family reunion.
“We have a huge hole in
our hearts because we’ve
lost our father,” Dona
Vold Larsen says. “But
we’re going to do our best
to carry on and do the
same things we did when

As tough as it will be to
experience the NFR without their father, the Vold
children are determined
to carry the torch he lit
nearly 60 years ago. In
fact, Harry made certain
that would be the case.
“It’s certainly going to be
different this year without my father,” Darce
Vold says. “But in 2014,
dad put in [his will] that
this would continue on in
a trust fund for hundreds
of years to come. So
we’ll all be sitting there
together again, and we’ll
continue on with the
tradition for many, many
more years—and many
generations—to come.
“As long as the rodeo is
in Las Vegas, there will
be some Volds sitting in
those seats.”

Photo: Courtesy of Vold Family.

partake in all that Las Vegas offers during Rodeo
Week. In fact, the family
is often easy to bump into
around town, especially
at the unofficial family
headquarters at Michael
Gaughan’s South Point
Hotel, Casino & Spa.

“He was a great guy and
a great dad. He touched a
lot of people.”

46 //

Staying in Touch
In this day and age, there are many ways to stay connected to the world’s largest rodeo
and the 10 best days of the year. Via several online portals, media partnerships and
social media, here is a guide to where to find the latest and greatest about all things
Wrangler NFR:

CLICK AND GO
NFRExperience.com – The place for everything you
need to know. Be sure to sign up for NFR e-lerts.
NFRexperience.com/CowboyChristmas – A microsite
dedicated to the world’s largest western lifestyle show.
The NFR App – Launching on October 1 and is the
perfect way to go mobile and stay in the know.

Wrangler Network – Visit WranglerNetwork.com for all
details as the NFR will be featured throughout the content provided by the Wrangler Network. Fans will be
able to see NFR-branded content online and through
the streaming broadcasts of major rodeos, including
the Calgary Stampede, Cheyenne Frontier Days, Sheridan Rodeo, Pendleton Stampede, Dodge City Roundup, WPRA World Finals and more. There will also be a
tribute to the Wrangler NFR’s greatest moments with
special video segments counting down to December.

Nightly
Entertainment
& Viewing Parties
PRESENTED BY

TICKET & HOTEL

475

STARTING FROM

$
PACKAGES

48 //

Rodeo Notes,
Quotes and Anecdotes
The 2016 Wrangler NFR through the words of the cowboys, cowgirls and fans
By PATRICK EVERSON and BRIAN HURLBURT

R

yder Wright, a
rookie saddle bronc
rider in 2016, won
five go-rounds of the
Wrangler National Finals
Rodeo, including the first
four in a row. The ringtone
on his cellphone? Foreigner’s “Juke Box Hero.”
“I think the song really
relates to what you do
here,” Wright said. “All the
lights, everybody yelling. I
got a standing ovation one
night when I got a noscore. That was weird, but
awesome at the same time.
It’s awesome to have fans
like that.”
Gizmo McCracken is
one of rodeo’s funniest
funnymen, and his crazy
outfits will certainly catch
your eye. But for comedic
value, he said it’s hard for
him to compete with what
the youngsters wear these
days in real life.
“Have you been to the
mall lately?” Gizmo asked.
“You can almost wear
anything anymore. People
are wearing britches
dragging on the ground,
or they’re in a night coat

or their pajamas. Everybody’s wearing something
funny, so it’s hard to be
unusual anymore.”
Flint Rasmussen talking
about the humble beginnings and now must-see
TV that is his “Outside the
Barrel” show, which airs
live each day from Cowboy Christmas at the Las
Vegas Convention Center.
“Through the years, we’ve
gone from something
set up in the back corner
here, just hoping people
happen upon us, to now
having people when they
schedule their trip to Las
Vegas, they make us part
of the day,” Rasmussen
said. “When people are
coming here on purpose,
that means we’re making
their day better. That’s the
goal.”
Rodeo fan Richard
Staloch, who with wife
Kathy was at the Wrangler
NFR for the 16th straight
year in 2016, had perhaps
the most unique answer
to the question: What
brings you back to the
NFR every year?

“It’s a love story,” Staloch
said. “Families love to be
here, cowboys and cowgirls love to compete, everybody knows each other.
You meet people you’ve
never seen in your life, and
then you’re friends with
them right away.”
Ted Kimzey, a renowned
bullfighter/rodeo clown/
barrelman in his heyday, is now watching
his bull-riding son take
center stage, with Sage
Kimzey, the three-time
reigning world champion.
“Everybody used to ask
if he was my son,” Ted
said. “Now, they ask if I’m
his father. I don’t have a
problem with it. I think
that’s awesome as hell.”
Barrel racer Mary Burger, to a roaring crowd at
the 2016 Wrangler NFR
after becoming the oldest
world champion in history, at 68 years old.
“God has his plan, and I
liked his plan,” Burger said.
There were numerous
historic performances

in Las Vegas over the 10
nights, but no cowboy left
town with a bigger smile
than Junior Nogueira, a
26-year-old team roping
header from Presidente Prudente, Brazil. He
combined with his heeler,
Kaleb Driggers, to place
sixth in Round 10, which
was enough to earn
Nogueira the all-around
gold buckle. Nogueira
is the first Brazilian in
PRCA history to win a
gold buckle. Since 2002,
there have now only been
three different all-around
champs - Nogueira joined
Trevor Brazile and Ryan
Jarrett. Jarrett’s title came
in 2005.
Bull rider Shane Proctor
electrified the crowd for
seven nights in a row
when he successfully
stayed on for the full
eight seconds for each of
the performances in true
“Vegas Lucky 7” fashion.
The 31-year-old rode
for 85 points on Bar T
Rodeo’s Broken Arrow in
the seventh round to earn
his second go-round win
of the WNFR.
“Man, I’ve just been
lucky, I guess, and drew
lucky,” Proctor said,
whose streak ended the
next night. “I had seen
this bull a bunch, and
felt pressured. Joe Frost
won on him earlier this
week, and it’s been a
great week and I want to
keep that going.”

A

celebration of
history and
equality is
coming August 5 to the
ProRodeo Hall of Fame.

Randy Corley

Charmayne James

Legendary
Ladies (and Men)
2017 ProRodeo Hall of Fame class is
first to include WPRA members
By REID THOMPSON

For the first time, members of the Women’s
Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) will be
among the inductees into
the Colorado Springs,
Colo.-based shrine. Joining the 12-member class
of 2017 will be 11-time
world champion barrel
racer Charmayne James,
32-time world champion
and seven-time National Finals Rodeo
qualifier Wanda
Harper Bush and
joint PRCA/WPRA
equine inductee Star
Plaudit “Red.”
The decision to finally
open the hall’s doors
to WPRA members was embraced
throughout the rodeo
world, as the sport’s
best female athletes
will now be given
their due alongside
the other legends of
the sport. It’s a cause
for which Bush, who
died in December
2015, long fought.
“I am thrilled to be going
in as part of the inaugural
class [of WPRA legends]
and what this represents
for all barrel racers,” said
James, who now lives in
Boerne, Texas. “To be

going in with Wanda is
exciting, because she was
such a pioneer for our
sport. Throughout my
entire career, her presence
and commitment to issues
with [respect to] barrel
racing were evident. She’s
why we’re here today.”
For James, the honor is
particularly meaningful, as
she’ll now be able to join
her late horse, Scamper,
who was inducted in 1996.
“Scamper has just been
waiting for me, and I was
fine with that, because
he really deserved the
honor. This news made
my entire day.”
The trio of WPRA inductees will be enshrined
along with 11-time PRCA
Announcer of the Year
Randy Corley, as well as
world champions Buck
Rutherford, Enoch Walker,
Mike Beers and Cody
Custer. Additional honorees will include 22-time
Wrangler NFR qualifier
Bob Ragsdale, four-time
PRCA Bareback Horse of
the Year Smith & Velvet of
Christensen Brothers and
the Ogden (Utah) Pioneer
Days rodeo committee.
Induction day will no
doubt be a thrill for the
inductees, their families
and the sport in general, as
deserving men and women are immortalized in the
annals of history.

“That was sensory overload,” said Lageschaar,
Miss Rodeo Texas 2016.
“It was over before I
knew it, but it was so
cool. It was just a wonderful experience.
“I barrel race, and it
inspired me to, once this
year is over, work hard
and hopefully come back
and run down that tunnel on a barrel horse.”

It’s good to be
the queen
Lageschaar relishing time as
Miss Rodeo America
By REID THOMPSON

L

isa Lageschaar
will never forget her first trip
around the Thomas &
Mack Center arena.

The newly minted Miss
Rodeo America 2017
was introduced to the
rodeo world with a
flourish last December

The blonde Texan has
thoroughly enjoyed her
time as Miss Rodeo
America 2017, an experience that has included
trips to the sport’s top
rodeos – the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, RodeoHouston and
Rodeo Austin, to name
a few – and an appearance at the Academy of
Country Music Awards
in Las Vegas. Each trip
has had its hearttwarming moments for Lageschaar, and one-of-a-kind
experiences she will
remember for a lifetime
await her at every turn.
“There have been a lot of
special moments,” said
Lageschaar, who has a
Master of Education in

Secondary Education
from Stephen F. Austin
State University and a
Bachelor of Science in
Agricultural Education
from Tarleton State University. “One was being
able to come back to Rodeo Austin in March, because I was Miss Rodeo
Austin in 2014. It was
special being there and
being welcomed with
open arms by that whole
committee and people
I’ve known there.”
This year’s Wrangler
NFR will be a whirlwind
for the Pickton, Texas,
native, who can’t wait
to soak in every moment and be an integral
part of it all. Whether
it’s attending banquets,
rodeo performances,
buckle presentations or
MRA pageant events,
Lageschaar is ready for it
all when the rodeo is in
town December 7-16.
“I love December in Las
Vegas, because Las Vegas
literally becomes a cowboy town,” she said. “It’s
my favorite place to be
that time of year, and this
time it’s 10 times as exciting because I’m going
to be a part of everything
as Miss Rodeo America.
Once the pageant starts,
I’ll be consumed by that,
the NFR and all of the
banquets and things like
the go-round buckle
presentations, so I’m
excited.”

Photo: Courtesy of Miss Rodeo America.

during the Wrangler
National Finals Rodeo,
following MRA 2016
Katherine Merck in a
Grand Entry lap around
the most famous rodeo
arena on the planet. It all
went by in a flash.

54 //
Sage Kimzey

glove before each ride. I
have to do that right before
each performance.”

Secrets of Success
Wrangler NFR world champs reveal their behind-the-scenes
routines—or are they superstitions?
By BRIAN HURLBURT

I

f your livelihood—and your life—came down to a few seconds on the dirt of a
rodeo arena, you’d certainly do anything in your power to ensure your success
and safety.

Such is the case for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo’s world-class competitors. To get a
better sense for how cowboys get ready for competitions, we recently caught up with three
world champions and asked them to share details of their pre-ride habits. Mostly, they call it
their “routine.” You can decide for yourself if it’s more like a superstition.
Let’s ride.
Junior Nogueira
2016 All-Around World
Champion (Team Roper
and Tie-Down Roper)
“I like to saddle my horse
and make sure everything

is ready. Then I try to select
the best rope to use that
night. I carry a bunch of
ropes in my rope bag and
I swing ’em all, then I try
to pick the best one. After

that, I go check out the
chute, then I like to pray.
I try to focus and concentrate, asking God to protect
us all and look over us.
I also tug and swing my

Tyson Durfey
2016 World Champion,
Tie-Down Roping
“Before competing, I
always stretch, and while
I’m stretching I get my
mind focused, go into
this tunnel vision and get
ready to go. I don’t have
any superstitions per se,
but if I don’t get time to
stretch, it definitely puts a
kink in my plans. I believe
that luck is nothing more
than preparation meeting
opportunity. But for the
last decade, I have worn a
pink shirt every time I’ve
competed. If I didn’t wear
it, I don’t think [competing and winning] would
mean as much to me.”
Note: Durfey wears pink as
a remembrance and to raise
awareness for those dealing
with breast cancer.

Photo: Tom Donoghue.

Sage Kimzey
2014-2016 World Champion, Bull Riding
“It’s not so much a superstition, but I have to have
the exact same [process]
each time, starting with
arriving at the [arena] at a
similar time every night.
In a sport with so many
variables, I try to remove as
many of those variables as
I can. I guess the only thing
I am kind of superstitious
about is that I need to have
a cross around my neck at
all times.”

WILD RIDE
OF
THE
NIGHT...EVERY
NIGHT
!
THE BEST FREE NFR VIEWING PARTIES IN LAS VEGAS.

ill Boyd is an icon in Las Vegas and just as iconic in the rodeo world. Here are some of his best
Wrangler National Finals Rodeo memories as told
by the co-founder of Boyd Gaming.
What is the first thing
that comes to your mind
about the Wrangler NFR
in Las Vegas?
The National Finals Rodeo
is one of the biggest and
most exciting events we
host all year. It is easily the
biggest marketing event of
the year for Boyd Gaming.
I first moved to Las Vegas
with my dad, Sam, back in
1941. NFR takes Las Vegas
back to those early days,
when it was a Western
town, and a real cowboy
town.
In your opinion, how
has the Wrangler NFR
changed the landscape
of Las Vegas during each
December since moving
to the city?

December used to be the
slowest month of the year
for Las Vegas, by far. Today, early December is
one of the busiest times
of year for our city. We
have the NFR to thank
for that. Rodeo fans come
from all over the country
and the world to stay in
our hotel rooms, eat at
our restaurants, shop in
our stores and play in our
casinos.
NFR is great for our business. And it’s a lot of fun
for all of us! Rodeo fans
are just great people, and
we love hosting them each
year. Like I said earlier,
seeing all of those cowboy
hats takes me back to the
early days of Las Vegas

when we were a real cowboy town.
Why is supporting the
Wrangler NFR so important to you personally
and business wise?
NFR is tremendously
important to our business,
and to our community. Each year, it has an
economic impact of more
than $110 million, not
including what is spent
in the casinos. At Boyd
Gaming, we host thousands of customers every
year at our hotels across
Las Vegas during NFR.
It’s really a huge event for
us. And we keep doing our
part to keep making Rodeo
Week even bigger. The
Boyd Gaming Chute-Out
at Orleans Arena is a great
example of that. Over the
last two years, the ChuteOut has turned into a great
complement to NFR – ro-

Who are your favorite
competitors of all time?
That’s really tough –
there have been so many
great competitors over
the last 30 years. A couple of names that come
to mind are Joe Beaver
and Donnie Gay. They’re
both eight-time champions, and have been
real stars of the National
Final Rodeo for so many
years. We’ve seen a lot of
great performances over
the years, but competitors like Joe and Donnie
really set the standard
for excellence at NFR.
I also don’t want to forget about the announcers, who are every bit as
important in creating
the NFR experience. It’s
hard to imagine rodeo
without announcers like
Bob Tallman and Boyd
Polhamus -- the voices of
rodeo in Las Vegas.

Photo: Mark Damon, Las Vegas News Bureau.

Conversation with
a Las Vegas legend:
Bill Boyd

Personally, I think of
NFR as my dad’s legacy. He played a big role
in getting the rodeo to
come to Las Vegas back
in 1984, and making
sure it got off to a great
start. By supporting the
NFR, I like to think we’re
continuing the legacy my
dad began more than 30
years ago

58 //
we’re thrilled to produce
an event like the Boyd
Gaming Chute-Out that
brings incredible athletes
together under one roof
and keeps fans on the edge
of their seats,” says Tony
Taeubel, Senior Vice President and General Manager
of The Orleans. “We are
still ridin’ for the fans in
2017, and look forward to
being a part of rodeo week
this December.”

Chutin’
It Out
at The
Orleans
A purse of
$200,000 is up
for grabs in the
Boyd Gaming
Chute-Out at The
Orleans Arena
By BRIAN HURLBURT

L

as Vegas goes all-in with rodeo each December, and the number of events surrounding the
Wrangler National Finals Rodeo grows each
year. One such event that has exploded in popularity is
the Boyd Gaming Chute-Out, which returns for a third
consecutive year December 7-9 at The Orleans Arena
adjacent to The Orleans Hotel and Casino. Competitors
will ride and rope for a purse of $200,000.
This is big-time rodeo
with big-time stars taking part in a three-day
afternoon competition
held prior to the Wrangler NFR action down
the road at the Thomas &
Mack Center. In addition
to offering more rodeo,
the Boyd Gaming ChuteOut gives fans a chance to
get up close and personal
with the action that is
held in the smaller venue
of the Orleans Arena.

For the past two years, the
Chute-Out has featured
contests, nonstop action
and participation from such
world champion riders
and ropers as Cody Ohl,
Fred Whitfield, J.W. Harris,
Cody Wright, Luke Branquinho and Wade Sundell.
Expect more of the same
this year.
“As a longtime supporter
of rodeo in Las Vegas,

Fans seeking a digitally
interactive experience can
download the Boyd Gaming Chute-Out mobile app,
which was introduced in
the event’s inaugural year.
The platform provides fans
with live scoring results,
contestant bios, exclusive
videos, information on
events and instant access
to the latest Chute-Out
news. Another unique feature of the Boyd Gaming
Chute-Out: Once again
this year, it will be the only
rodeo event listed in Boyd
Gaming’s sportsbooks
during Rodeo Week.
For tickets and additional
information on Chute-Out
happenings and other Boyd
Gaming events, visit BoydGamingEvents.com.

Photos: Boyd Gaming.

Says legendary rodeo
announcer and Chute-Out
ambassador Bob Tallman:
“This is a hot, powerhouse
type of performance. The
Orleans Arena is a magical
place, and this is a great
way to rodeo.”

60 //

Roping Front
and Center
The lucrative World Series of Team Roping event in Las Vegas features a purse of more than $10 million and weekend
rodeo warriors compete for some of it.
By BRIAN HURLBURT

The big-money event,
which returns to South
Point Hotel & Casino and
other venues December
11-17, is the culmination
of a season in which team
ropers of various skill
levels compete for $70
million annually.
“I have great pride in
this event,” says World
Series of Team Roping
founder Denny Gentry,
whose spectacle comes
on the heels of the 10-day
Wrangler National Finals
Rodeo. “Certainly, the

racing industry is the
big dog, but this is not a
recreational horse event.
Over the course of the
season, the $70 million
distributed to ropers
exceeds the combined
total of nearly every other
horse discipline, and that
is huge.
“We have created an environment where a weekend, occasional warrior
can compete for well over
a million dollars in purse
money, every day for six
to seven days straight.”
The 12th annual World
Series, which is free to the
public, is the culmination
of a year in which 100,000
teams battle it out in 140
sanctioned competitions
in the United States,
Canada, Australia, Italy,
the Czech Republic and
the Dominican Republic.
The top money winners in

multiple categories punch
their tickets to Las Vegas.
While the South Point
Arena & Equestrian Center is home base during
the weeklong World
Series, it’s not quite big
enough to accommodate
all the horses and competitors, forcing spillover
to other facilities. But
even the auxiliary venues
have reached their capacity, forcing Gentry to cap
the competition.
“There are no new
changes this year because we have maxed out
the ability of the [South
Point] and temporary
facilities to handle more
horses and vehicles,”
Gentry says. “Our efforts
from this point forward
will be to offer better
service and do our best
to make the experience
fun for the contestants.”

Gentry acknowledges
that the jam-packed
schedule can be overwhelming to fans and
competitors, because no
matter the time of day,
an exciting event is taking place somewhere.
“These roping events run
12 hours a day for seven
days in a row, and even
the most focused enthusiast can quickly overdose,” says Gentry, who
crowned 902 different
winners in 2016. “However, all the hardcore
fans show up at noon
each day and watch the
money rounds. These
one-hour short rounds
are exciting, because
more than $1.5 million is
awarded daily.”
For additional information on the 2017 World
Series of Team Roping,
visit WSTRoping.com.

Photo: World Series of Team Roping.

E

pic just begins to
describe the annual World Series of
Team Roping event held
in Las Vegas each December. With a total purse
north of $10 million, it’s
the second richest equestrian competition on the
planet, trailing only the
Breeders’ Cup horse races.

62 //

Hangin’ at the Mack
Watching the nightly rodeo is just one part of an immersive
Wrangler NFR experience at the Thomas & Mack Center
By BRIAN HURLBURT

“From the minute fans set
foot on the Thomas & Mack
Center grounds, they know
they’re part of a mega-event
similar to the Super Bowl or
Final Four, and it’s important for us to make sure that’s
the case each night,” says
Tim Keener, vice president
of event and ticket operations for Las Vegas Events,
which sponsors the Wrangler NFR. “I visualize the
Thomas & Mack WNFR
experience from the fan’s
point of view and want it to
be memorable. No detail is
too large or small. From the
huge signage at the Thomas
& Mack to how fans exit
the resort shuttles or other
transportation, it’s our goal
that each fan immediately
understands they’re walking
into an immersive Wrangler
NFR experience. We encourage people to come early,
stay late and enjoy it all.”

The ProRodeo Zone
is where fans will find
official Professional Rodeo
Cowboys Association
sponsors—such as RAM
Trucks, Coors and Polaris
Ranger—with interactive
exhibits featuring giveaways, contests and more.
It’s also the first touch point
for fans who arrive via
resort shuttle or other hired
transportation. Among the
other offerings are a live
stage, as well as a country
and western dance hall.
The NFR Fan Zone is positioned immediately outside
of the front entrance of the
arena and is the perfect
spot to meet friends prior
to the rodeo, then grab
some good food and drink
from vendors that have
become fan favorites over
the years. Specialties include homemade barbecue,
grilled corn and a grated
and smothered potato
concoction that defies
description.
Once inside the arena,
fans are greeted with more
hospitality and entertainment options. Many will
favor spending time in the
Cowboy Corral, where
libations are available at
the Cowboy Corral saloon
and country music acts
handpicked by Las Vegas

Events and Wrangler NFR
staff perform.
Relatively new to the
T&M’s offerings is The
’Shoe, an entertainment
venue that overlooks the
Las Vegas Strip. Entering its second year, The
’Shoe is the home of CBS
Sports Network’s televised
pre-rodeo show, as well
as championship saddle
displays, a Resistol hat
cleaning booth, a saloon
and a lounge setup with
couch and other comfortable seating.
For those who appreciate
rodeo history, the Hall of
Champions, now located at
the Bull ’n Barrel Saloon,
is the perfect spot to read
about some of the top competitors in Wrangler NFR
history. Like at The ’Shoe,
a custom Western saloon
experience is offered in the
Bull ‘n Barrel area.
“We are always looking
for new ideas that will
enhance the experience
for the rodeo fan while
attending that evening’s
competition,” Keener says.
“We have a staff with more
than 100 years of event
experience, and we think
about the Wrangler NFR—
and how to make it special—365 days a year.”

01.

The NFR Fan Zone
features down
home food
and libations.

02.

Dancing and
drinking in the
Cowboy Corral is a
pre and post-rodeo
tradition for
many fans.

Photo: Courtesy
Photos:
Steve Spatafore.
of Thomas & Mack Center.

I

t’s been detailed
throughout this publication how Las Vegas goes
cowboy for 10 days each
December. That includes
the Thomas & Mack Center,
where fans are invited to arrive early for the nightly goround action and stay late,
all the while enjoying an
incredible Western lifestyle
experience featuring food,
drinks, concerts, interactive
vendors and much more.

// 63
1

THE THOMAS & MACK
EXPERIENCE
Here is a guide to what to expect
inside and out of rodeo’s biggest
annual event. Aside from the ProRodeo Zone and NFR Fan Zone, a
Wrangler NFR ticket for that performance is required for entry.
OUTSIDE
ProRodeo Zone
•

Custom western saloon experience
Viewing party (each performance
is broadcast live on a video board)

The ‘Shoe
•

CBS Sports pre-show

•

Championship saddle display

•

Resistol Hat cleaning booth

•

VIP parties

•

Live viewing (on video board)

•

Lounge setup (seating with couches, etc.)

•

Custom western saloon experience

•

Dramatic views of Las Vegas Strip

Bull ‘N Barrel Saloon
•

Hall of Champions

•

Custom western saloon experience

64 //

Karl in Charge
PRCA commissioner Karl Stressman,
who was key in securing a $175 million
agreement to keep the Wrangler NFR in
Las Vegas through 2024, is riding into
retirement
By BRIAN HURLBURT

I

t was public knowledge that during negotiations for
a new contract between Las Vegas and the PRCA
that it was a possibility the largest rodeo in the world
might leave Las Vegas, much to the disappointment of
fans, contractors and most competitors. But that was
averted due to the efforts of several key people including
PRCA commissioner Karl Stressman, who has announced that he is retiring December 31 after nine years
at the helm.

“I sat down in the commissioner’s chair for the first
time in September 2008,
and I made a promise to
myself that I would give
my very best efforts each
and every day to improve
the sport of Professional
Rodeo,” Stressman said.
“I made myself another
promise that I would stay
at the PRCA as long as I
enjoyed the job. Well, it’s
time to say goodbye. I will
be retiring at the end of
2017, after completing my
10th Wrangler National
Finals Rodeo as Commissioner of the PRCA.”
Stressman also played a
major role in negotiating
a television broadcast
agreement with CBS
Sports Network through
2019 and successfully
protected the organization’s rights to provide
equal opportunity to all
association members
and not just a select few
athletes. In addition,
he accepted fiduciary
responsibility for generating substantial cash
reserves for the organization while returning
nearly 90 percent of all
income generated to

benefit members and
membership services.
As for Las Vegas, Stressman believed the future
was as bright as the lights
on the Strip upon signing
the new agreement.
“This is truly a historic
day for the Professional
Rodeo Cowboys Association and the sport of professional rodeo,” Stressman said in 2014. “… We
could not be happier and
look forward to working with our partners in
Las Vegas on continued
growth and prosperity
for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and
the Professional Rodeo
Cowboys Association.”
Even as he plans his
departure, Stressman has
put into place a future
path that will allow for the
PRCA’s top rodeos to gain
even more prominence.
The PRCA membership
will profit as the organization enters into new digital content opportunities.
“It has been an amazing run, but certainly
not without a few battle
scars,” he said. “It has
been my privilege to have
had the opportunity to
serve the members, our
committees, our great
sponsors and the best
fans in the sporting
world. I thank you all for
the opportunity! Long
Live Cowboys!”

Photo: Brian Q Gauck.

Under his stewardship,
the PRCA has enjoyed
phenomenal growth,
much of it buoyed with
the signing of the record
$175 million contract
that kept the Wrangler
National Finals Rodeo in
Las Vegas through 2024.

66 //

Her plans worked to perfection and a dizzying schedule
of 52 rodeos through the
end of June paid off in many
ways. Now her goal is to keep
the #1 back number position.
When she and her main
horse (JSYK Im Famous)
gallop out of the Thomas &
Mack tunnel, it will mark
Schuster’s first-ever appearance in the Wrangler NFR.

Straight out of
Texas

Tiany Schuster is in the Wrangler NFR
for the first time and is the earliest qualifier in history
By BRIAN HURLBURT

B

y March 6, Tiany Schuster had already earned
$72,637, an all-time World Championship
Barrel Racing record. She had doubled that
amount by July 11 to $163,433, and she still had a
summer of rodeoing ahead of her. She was $70,000
ahead of the second-place racer, Kathy Grimes.

“With Las Vegas and the
NFR a secure stop in the
future, the first thing that
comes to my mind is the
overall accomplishment,”
Schuster says. “How many
dream and try to get there?
The greatest of the great
horses have gone down the
alley there. JSYK Im Famous
is the mount of choice for the
NFR and we are anxiously
awaiting his moment to
go down that alley. So, my
thoughts of Vegas and the
NFR are that dreams will be
made, disappointments will
happen, but remember we all
were, and are, good enough
to get there.”

2016 Highlights
• Won the year-end title at
the Texas Circuit Finals
• Won the Laramie (Wyo.)
Jubilee Days
• Won the Butterfield
Stage Days PRCA Rodeo
(Bridgeport, Texas)
• Won the Bandera (Texas)
Pro Rodeo
• Won the Panola County
Cattlemen’s Rodeo
(Carthage, Texas)
• Won the Johnson County
Sheriff’s Posse Rodeo
(Cleburne, Texas)
• Won Southeastern
Livestock Expo
(Montgomery, Ala.)
• Won the Goliad (Texas)
County Fair & Rodeo
• Won the Rio Grande
Valley Livestock Show &
Rodeo (Mercedes, Texas)

Photo: RNCFR.

“Qualifying is life changing,
plain and simple,” Schuster
says. “I had set out with a
goal and a plan. These two
things are what helped to set
money earning records week
after week and month after
month. Those earnings have
secured the first ever spot in
the NFR out of the winter
rodeos. No guy or girl has
ever accomplished that. They
all said it couldn’t be done,
but look at the numbers. Welcome to the new standard.”